CHAPTER 7: EQUATIONS and INEQUALITIES

Linear
Equations

Inequalities Equations Quadratic

and equations
Inequalities

Systems
of
Equations

Learning objectives:

By the end of this chapter, the students should be able to:

a. Solve linear equations

b. Solve quadratic equations
c. Solve problems involving systems of equations
d. Solve problems involving inequalities

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 CHAPTER 7: EQUATIONS and INEQUALITIES

Introduction:

- Equations are used in many fields such banks, companies and government agencies.
- Banks use equations to calculate interests on our fixed deposits and the monthly
repayments on our mortgage loans.
- Companies use equations to predict sales and production in the future.
- Equations are also used to help recognize the patterns of many variables such as
population growth.

Equations

- A statement such as 3x + 3 = 9 which can be true or false is said to be a conditional

(open) equation as it true for some values of the variable x and not true for others.
- For example, 3x + 3 = 9 is true for x = 2 but is false for x = 3 or other values.
- Any number that makes the equation true is called a solution or root of the equation.
- A statement such as 3x + 33 is called an identity as it true for all real numbers of x.
- While solving equations, there may be no solution, one solution or more than one
solution.

Equation Solution Comment

1. X + 10 = 12 X=2 Has only one solution
2. X2 = 144 X = 12 or -12 Has two solutions
3. X=5+X No solution Has no solution
4. X2 – 16 = (X – 4)(X + 4) All values of X Equation is true for all
values of X.

Solutions of linear equations in one variable

- A linear equation in one variable is of the form ax + b = c. The solution is

Example 1:

Solve 5(x – 3) = 10

Solution

5(x – 3) = 10 5x = 25

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 5x – 15 = 10 x=5

Example 2

Solution

Multiplying the above by 4 throughout, we get

2x + (3 – x) = 48
2x + 3 – x = 48
X = 45

Quick Check 1

Solve the following for x

1. 4x – 3 = 2x + 5
2. 5(x – 2) = 3(2x – 5)
3.

4.

5. 0.8x – 0.02(100 – x) = 39

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Quadratic Equations

- The general form of quadratic equations is given by

ax2 + bx + c = 0
where a, b and c are constants and x = 0.
- Quadratic equations can be solved by several methods such as the factorization method
and quadratic formula.

Factorization method

- If the left hand side of equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 can be factorized into two factors, such
as (px + q)(mx + n) then,
ax2 + bx + c = 0
(px + q)(mx + n) = 0
We say,
px + q = 0 or (mx + n) = 0

thus,

Example 3

Solve x2 + X – 6 = 0

Solution

X2 + X – 6 = 0
(X + 3) (X – 2) = 0
X + 3 = 0 or X – 2 = 0
X = -3 or X = 2

Example 4

Solve 3x2 – 5x – 2 = 0

Solution:

3x2 – 5x – 2 = 0
(3x + 1) (x – 2) = 0
3x + 1 = 0 or x – 2 = 0
X = 1/3 or x = 2

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- The quadratic formula will calculate the solutions of any quadratic equation.
- A quadratic equation is an equation that can be written as
ax ² + bx + c where a ≠ 0
- In other words, a quadratic equation must have a squared term as its highest power
Examples of quadratic equations
1. y = 5x² + 2x + 5
2. y = 11x² + 22
3. y = x² − 4x +5
4. y = −x² + 5

Examples of equations those are not quadratic

1. y = 11x + 22
2. y = x3 − 4x² +5x +5
3. y = 2x3 − 4x²

Quadratic formula

4. y = −x4 + 5

- The solution of a quadratic equation is the value of x when you set the equation
equal to zero i.e. When you solve the following general equation: 0 = ax² + bx + c
- Given a quadratic equation: ax ² + bx + c
The quadratic formula below will solve the equation for zero.

- The quadratic formula is:

- Examples of the quadratic formula to solve an equation

Example 5
Quadratic Equation: y = x² + 2x + 1

Solution:

a = 1, b = 2 and c= 1, thus with using quadratic formula

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 Y = -1

Example 6

Solve X2 – X – 6 = 0

Solution

a = 1, b = 1, c = -6

Note that b2 – 4ac > 0. Therefore, there are two unequal real solutions.

X = 3 or -2

Note that this problem can also be solved by the factorization method.

Example 7

Solve X2 – 2x + 1 = 0

Solution:

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Quick Check 2

Solve the following for X.

1. X2 – 5X + 6 = 0 4. (2X – 1)2 = 1
2. 3X2 – X – 10 = 0 5. 2X2 + 6X – 3 = 0
3. 5X2 + 8X – 6 = 2(X + 1)

Systems of equations

- A system of equations contains two or more equations.

- Each equation contains one or more variables.
- A solution of a system of equations consists of values for the variables that make the
system true.
- Two methods that are usually used in solving a system of equations are the elimination
of variable method, and the substitution method.

Example 8:

Solve the following of equations.

X + 3Y = 6
3X – 3Y = 20

Solution

X + 3Y = 6……………………………(1)
3X – 3Y = 20……………………… (2)

(1) + (2) 4X = 26
X = 26/4
X = 13/2
Substituting X = 13/2 into (1), we get

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Therefore, the solution for X and Y is:

Quick Check 3

Solve the following systems of equations

1. X – Y = 3 3. -2X + 5Y = 9
2X + Y = 6 5X – 3Y = -2

2. 3X – 2Y = 5
X + 6Y = 15

Inequality

- The various inequality signs are the follows:

 greater than  greater than or equal to

< less than  less than or equal to

- An inequality is a statement involving two expressions separated by any of the

inequality symbols above.
- For instance, if a and b are real numbers, then the above inequality signs can be used to
compute a and b.

Inequality properties

- For any real numbers a, b and c,

1. If a < b, then a + c < b + c.
2. If a < b, then a – c < b – c
3. If a < b and c is positive, then ca < cb
4. If a < b and c is negative, then ca > cb
5. If a < b and c is positive, then

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 6. If a < b and c is negative, then

Solving linear equalities

- Consider the following examples:

Example 9

Solve 3x + 10 < 4x – 7

Solution

3x - 4x < – 7 - 10
-x < -17
x > 17

Example 10

Solution

3 (6x + 4) > 5 92x – 1)

18x + 12 > 10x – 5
8x > -17

Example 11

Solve – 11 < 3x – 2 < 4

Solution

Method 1
This is a double inequality. It is really an abbreviation for two inequalities, that is

-11 < 3x – 2 and 3x – 2 < 4

-9 < 3x and 3x < 6
-3 < x and x < 2

Therefore, -3 < x < 2.

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 Method 2

-11 < 3x -2 < 4

-9 < 3x < 6
-3 < x < 2

Example 12

Solve 10 – 3x  2x – 7 < x – 13

Solution

10 – 3x  2x – 7 and 2x – 7 < x – 13
-5x  -17 x < -6

- It is impossible to have x equal to or greater than 17/5 and less than -6 at the same time.
Therefore, there is no solution.

Quick Check 4

Solve the following inequalities:

1. 5 – 3x  20
2. 7x – 3 > 2x + 9
3. 3(2x – 5)  2(x – 1)

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 Tutorial Questions

1. Solve the following for x:

2. Solve the following simultaneous equations.

a. 3x – 4y = 5 c. 2x – 3y =4
5x + 2y = 8 6x – 2xy -14 = 0

b. 3x – 4y = 10 d. x – y = 5
x – 6y + 5 = 0 xy = 6

3. Find the value of x:

a. 4x + 8 > 2x – 1
b. 13 – x > 5x -11
c. 7x + 2 > 10x + 5
d. 4 (x +3)  6 (3x – 1) –x
e. –(2x + 5)  -8
f. 9 < 2 – 2x < 13

Reference:

Accountancy Mathematics for UiTM by Lau Too Kya, Phang Yook Ngor & Wee Kok Kiang,
published by Oxford Fajar Sdn Bhd (second edition 2007)

Prepared by: R.Rajamohan B.Econs (Hons), MBA (Accounting)

© Copy Right Reserved by Saito College 2010

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